Electrical timing device



Oct. 20, 1931 H. RODANET ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Filed May 7, 1928 I; Illll M INVENTOR.

BY 7 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 20, 1931 (11 111151) STATES HENRI RODANET, or VEBSAILLES, FRANCE PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Application filed May 7, 1928, Serial No. 275,789, and in France May 31, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical timing devices and other apparatus run by clock works. i

The electromagnetic. stepping devices known in the prior art have certain inherent disadvantages. Examples of these disadvantages are given below.

A necessary part of timing devices dependent upon an electromagnet foroperation is the electric contact elements which by Opening andclosing the circuit control the flow of electricity through the winding of the solenoid. Often sparking takes place, between the contact elements, due to the slowness with which the contact is made and broken. Such sparking burns away the contact points, producing a poor surface of contact and tends alsoto change the timing of the clock mechanism. I i I *Further, the prior devices are arranged in such a. manner thatshould-the clock mechanism be stopped with the circuit closed, a relatively large current will flow through the Y circuit thus creating unnecessary expense in operating. The necessityfor the large amount of current is due to the relatively heavy springs which are used for motors.

' The primary object of my invention is to provide a construction of an electric timing device which eliminates among others, the disadvantages stated above. Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the electric timing. device showing the electromagnet, contacting apparatus, clock train and the back of the clock face;

Figures 2, 3, and 4 show diagrams of various positions in the operation of the contacting apparatus.

' For one of the contacting elements in my device I have used a spring. This presents many advantages. The other contact element is a long metal piece and curved so that it fits the curvature of the spring contact. The result is that the coils of the spring offer a great number of contact points to bear on the curved contactpiece. Inasmuch as the Contact is accomplished by suddenly changing the direction of the moment of force of the contact bar about its axis. This will be described in more detaillater.

The frequency of movement imparted to the clock train in my device is relatively great. Because of this it is possible to use weak springs for the motor which supplies the energy for themovement. This is of great advantage, for the armature which renders the motor operative thus requires less magnetic force to attract it to the electromagnet when tensioning the spring motor. The result is that only a. small amount of electricity is necessary to energize the magnet so that should the movement be stopped with the contact closed only a small amount of current will pass through the system.

In my device the electromagnet, motor and contact device have been arranged as a compact and separate unit as distinguished from the clock train. The result is that my movement producing device may be applied readily to a variety of types of clockwork and similar apparatus. Another advantage of this arrangement is that the clockwork and electrical apparatus are easily accessible for repairs, cleaning and adjustment.

My device may be readily understood by referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference characters represent like parts and in which reference character 1 designates a ratchet wheel mounted on the pin 2. This pin is pivoted in plate 5 and the plate 3 which is mounted on the d1al platefi. The ratchet wheel 1 is fitted with a gear on its axle which engages with a clock train of any type 36. Movement is given to the ratchet wheel by means of the pawl 6 which consists of a'thin steel bar with a slightly curved engaging surface at 6. The pawl 6 is fastened by means of a. screw 7 to the bar 8 which is attached to the armature 9 of the electromagnet 10 which has one of its poles visible at 11. The armature 9 is pivoted on the pin 12 which is supported by the brackets 13 of the plate 16. This plate runs parallel to the electromagnet 10 and is fastened down by the screw nuts 15 to the threaded rods 14.

The electromagnet is held in place by the threaded rods 14 which pierce each of its poles 11. These rods in consequence support the whole of the electromagnetic apparatus. The rods 14 are connected to the plate 3 to which the dial face 4 is attached. The rods 14 then pass through plate 5 securing it in position. As described above the rods then pass through the poles 11 and the plate 16 securing them also in position. The screw nuts 15 hold the plates and magnet on the rods 14. Integral with the plate 16 and at its central point, there is a projecting bracket 17 which is bent down and forms the supports 18 and 19 of the pin 20. One of the mediums of contact 21 is mounted on the pin 20 in such a manner that it is free to turn. This contact 21 is attached by means of springs 22 to the projecting elements 23 which are lntegral with the projecting lever 8 attached to the armature 9.

The second element of contact is a spring 24, the ends of which are attachedby the screws 25, to the end pieces 26 of the insulating plates 27. These insulating plates 27 also serve to limit the winding on the electroma et 10. The terminal connections at which the electrical energy enters and leaves the apparatus are designated by 28 and 29. Current passes to the winding of the electromagnet 10, through the electrical connection 34 which passes through the hole 30 in the insulated plate 27. The current leaves throu h the connection 31 and is connected to one of the contacts 24 at the point 32. When the contact is made the current flows from contact 24 to contact 21 from which it passes to the plate 16. It is taken off the plate 16 at the oint 33, through the connecting wire 35, to t e terminal 29.

The functioning of the mechanism takes place as follows:

In Figure 2 the armature 9 is positioned against the poles 11 of the magnet 10. When in this position'it pulls the contact 21, by means of the springs 22, in the direction f against projection 17. The contact being broken the electromagnet 10 is deenergized releasing the armature 9 from the poles 11. 'Ilhe armature is then pulled away from the poles 11 of the de-energized electromagnet by the sprlng motor 22, and in the direction shown by arrow f When the axis of the spring 22 has passed the pin 20 of the contact element 21 the moment of force on the contact element 21 reverses in the direction as shown by the arrow f of Figure 3. The result is that the contact element 21 flies out against the spring contact 24. The impact of the contact 21 against the spring contact 24 causes the latter to vibrate. The movement of the spring coils, back and forth across the surface of the contact element 21 creates an excellent contact. As the armature 9 is pulled away from the poles 11 in the direction f this movementis transferred by means of the projection 8 and the pawl 6 to the ratchet wheel 1 which transfers the movement to the clock train. As soon as the contact 21 is imposed upon contact 24, current flows throng the solenoid of the magnet 10 and the poles 11 of the magnet are energized and attract the armature 9 in the direction f as shown in Figure 4. The contact 21 is held against the spring contact 24 until the axis of the spring 22 passes the pin 20 of the Contact 21. At this point the moment of force on contact 21 changes direction and the contact snaps away from the spring contact 24 and rests against the projection 17 of plate 18. This position is shown in F' ure 2, the action then being repeated as descrlbed above. 7

It is seen that the springs 22 act both as a motor to move the clock train and as a means to disengage the contact 21 from the spring contact 24. The device is capable of a delicate adjustment so that very little magnetic energy is needed to pull contact 21 from its position against the spring contact 24 to its position against the promotion 17. A relatively rapid oscillation of the armature 9 takes place, imparting motion to the clock train through ratchet wheel L Inasmuch as it is necessary to tension a relatively weak spring motor, only a small amount of magnetic attraction is necesary in the electromagnet 10 to attract the arm ture 9. Because of this it is necessary to pas only a weak current through the winding of the magnet 10 to energize it.

Besides the advantage that this electrical mechanism uses only a. small amount of cur rent when operating there is another advantage in this type of construction. If the clock should become stopped for some rea son, with the circuit closed, that is with contact 21 against contact 24, only a small our tent will continue to pass through the q's- The entire electromagnetic mechanism is supported by the threaded rods 14. These rods hold the electromagnet 10 in place by piercing its poles 11. The plate 16 which supports the armature 9 and the contact device 21 is also held in place by the rods 14. The plate 16 is placed just above the proections 26, of the insulating plate 27, and may be insulated from contact with the magnet 10. Several advantages are obtained by this means of support. The electromagnetic mechanism may be assembled or removed as a unit and as such it is applicable to a variety of types of timing apparatus. The clock mechanism may be assembled as a separated unit and the electromagnetic mechanism then imposed upon it to furnish the movement to the clock train. This arrangement also facilitates cleaning and repairing by making all parts easily accessible.

The plates 27 may be made of hard rub-' ber, pressed fibrous material, or with a proper arrangement of the device they may be made of some metallic material.

The terminals 28 and 29 for the external electrical connections, and connections 31, 34, and 35 may be placed in any convenient position.

I have described only a specific form of my device. To those skilled in the art it is obvious that there are many possible variatio-ns. For these reasons I do not wish to be limited by this description and drawings but only by the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electromagnetic stepping device a magnet, an armature, a switch member and a contact therefor, a driving member forming a connection between said switch member and armature and adapted to retract the latter when the magnet is deenergized.

2. In an electromagnetic stepping device a magnet, an armature, a switch member and a contact therefor, a driving member forming a direct connection between the switch member and armature and adapted to retract the latter when the magnet is de-energized, said driving member being adapted to retract the switch member from the contact member when the magnet is energized.

3. In an electromagnetic stepping device a magnet, an armature, a switch member and a contact therefor, said switch member being pivoted for swinging movement into and out of engagement with said contact, a driving member forming a connection between said switch member and armature and adapted to retract the latter when the magnet is de-energized.

4. In an electro-magnetic stepping device, a magnet, an armature, a switch member and a contact therefor, said switch member being pivoted for swinging movement into and out of engagement with said contact member, said armature being pivoted for swinging movement in and out of engagement with said magnet, a driving member forming a direct connection between said switch member and armature and adapted to retract the switch member when the magnet is energized and to retract the armature when the magnet is de-energized.

5. In an electromagnetic stepping device a magnet, an armature, means cooperative with the armature for eflecting a stepping action, a switch comprising a first contact member having a large contact area and a second contact member in the form of a spiral spring adapted to have its convolutions engaged by said contact area to close the circuit and energize the magnet.

6. In an electromagnetic stepping device a magnet, an armature and means cooperative with the armature for efiecting a stepping action, a switch comprising a first contact member having a large curved contact area and a second contact member in the form of a spring adapted to have its convolutions engaged and distorted by said contact area to close the circuit and energize the magnet.

7. In an electro-magnetic stepping device, a magnet, an armature, means cooperative with the armature for effecting a stepping action, a switch member and contact, a spring forming a direct connection between said switch member and said armature adapted to retract said armature when the magnet is de-energized and to retract said switch member when said magnet is energized, said switch member being pivoted adjacent one end for swinging movement into and out of contact with its contact.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRI RODANET. 

